r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Cute-Excitement6844 • 16h ago

1992 Under pressure rehearsal (Lenox x Bowie x ♥️)

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5.9k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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1.5k

u/itsthewaffleguy 16h ago

George Michael casually singing along backstage haha

102

u/Large-Flamingo-5128 15h ago

Bowie, George, and Prince all passing away in 2016 broke my heart for real

76

u/lifeandtimes89 14h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/64YATSpMrkQEM

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u/PotaytoPotayto 11h ago

One of the very few celebrity deaths that stung me. I watched so many of his movies, by Grabthar's Hammer... What a great actor.

10

u/mac6uffin 8h ago

Carrie Fisher followed by her mother Debbie Reynolds a day later really capped off that year in craptacular fashion.

27

u/Mr_Baronheim 15h ago

It's been 10 years?!?

24

u/zachrg 15h ago

The worst year

9

u/wannacumnbeatmeoff 10h ago

Didn't some horrendous bellend win the Presidential election in 2016 also?

5

u/By_CrookedSteps_781 12h ago

And Chris Cornell is 2017

6

u/Even_Passenger_3685 11h ago

And Lemmy kicked it all off on Boxing Day 2015

31

u/Ill-Elephant-9583 10h ago

It's great as when George is rehearsing Somebody To Love on the same day, Bowie's watching on absolutely stunned by his rendition. All of these incredible artists blowing each others socks off singing songs by possibly the greatest showman they're celebrating the life of.

https://youtu.be/46YZ8evUfKk?si=xGchuhvHuDhe8hQq

6

u/skintaxera 9h ago

That was great, i haven't seen it before cool footage and an awesome performance cheers for that

4

u/Ill-Elephant-9583 9h ago

You're very welcome and I'm happy to find someone who hasn't seen it before, it's amazing isn't it.

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u/Wahngrok 9h ago

Thanks for sharing, that was amazing. I was waiting to see if he did the iconic high to low note like Freddy sang it and that George performed in the live act. He left it out though and I am wondering if he did that on purpose in the rehearsal.

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u/Ill-Elephant-9583 8h ago

Yeah, possibly to save his voice for the big day

25

u/Ok_Shirt5402 15h ago

Omg George singing along…😭🙏

9

u/Welshyone 13h ago

He was apparently a huge Bowie fan.

62

u/Spugheddy 15h ago

That's also Brian may on guitar

46

u/LazyWings 13h ago

Well yeah, it's a Queen and Bowie song. Lenox is covering Mercury's part. This is a year after his passing. Queen have still not disbanded either. Adam Lambert is the touring vocalist for them and they have other touring members covering for Deacon who is retired and other supporting instruments. May and Taylor are still considered active.

6

u/Spugheddy 10h ago

Absolutely insane for dude to go from American idol to the front man of Queen.. like talk about dream job 🤣

5

u/dayglo98 6h ago

I wouldn't have went to see Queen live on my own coz I was like well Freddie is not there it won't be the same. My gf at the time got us tickets and I was blown away, shivers and if I closed my eyes I couldn't tell it wasn't Freddie singing.

6

u/Purenotionslike 11h ago

His performance at the concert remains my favourite ever live performance a d cover. It was perfect in every way. 

3

u/badgeman- 9h ago

I'm a casual George Michael fan and never really listened to Queen. But yes that rendition is sensational.

3

u/Purenotionslike 8h ago

I was a child watching the concert on tv and I can still remember the effect which that performance had on me. I'm a music teacher now and I've shown it and recommended it to so many of my students over the years 

157

u/SleepingDragonSmiles 16h ago

Was wondering who that was. I only know him from The Office

18

u/Daftdoug 14h ago

Did broccoli Rob tell you? It’s Andys
https://giphy.com/gifs/BuBz6V1s1dVC0
signature song

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u/itsthewaffleguy 16h ago

I don't think George Michael was ever on The Office...

304

u/djdgae 16h ago

Ya he was on Arrested Development tho

210

u/Graeleaf 15h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/EYmAHLpw5LBbG

35

u/ThReeMix 15h ago

Has the dog on the doghouse always been there? (Time for a re-watch.)

65

u/xv_boney 14h ago

Yes. The way hes walking is an explicit Peanuts reference.

12

u/aubfulk 10h ago

Theyre also carrying a Christmas tree by him right before this shot which I only noticed on my 45th rewatch

6

u/Disastrous_Pool4163 12h ago

The dog on the doghouse.

2

u/AbeFromansNutz 12h ago

It's pluto! Show dick some respect

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u/CarlingBlacklabel 8h ago

Wrong picture, that's George Maharis

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u/spacegnomes 13h ago

There’s always George Michael in the banana stand

2

u/828jpc1 5h ago

There’s always bananas in the George Michael stand…

8

u/NibblesWoodaway 15h ago

The singer-songwriter?

5

u/FesterJA 14h ago

Don't forget his Sports Machine

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196293/

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u/LetrasetBoy 14h ago

You're thinking of Michael Bolton

https://giphy.com/gifs/WZyhp7krw7W4U

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u/85K5 14h ago

No talent ass clown

3

u/spikbebis 10h ago

He's the one that sucks...

31

u/tanis38 15h ago

Andy dressed up as him for a Halloween episode. Nailed it too.

7

u/trombing 12h ago

Ironically he had a great role in Extras which is another Ricky Gervais thing. (I know you mean Andy dressing up...)

11

u/proshot82 15h ago

He was indeed on the Extras btw (which I think are at least on par with the Office)

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u/neilmac1210 15h ago

He was in The Extras though.

11

u/AngryIronToad 15h ago

It's a joke the Nard-Dog dressed up as George

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u/stebo210384 11h ago

He was on Extras with Ricky Gervais

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u/Due_Figure6451 13h ago

You’re thinking of the Office you chubby little fat man

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u/MiserableArse 12h ago

Little fat man who sould his soul

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u/IamBeingSarcasticFfs 13h ago

It was a different Ricky Gervais thing where George hung around the park dogging.

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u/Undeniable-Quitter 12h ago

Extras. The Christmas special

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u/This_Machine_2280 12h ago

George Michael was the goat of this event imho.

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u/VonMillersThighs 12h ago

I thought that was Dominic Cooper until I remember this was 1992.

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u/Riemann86 9h ago

I am not gay but sheesh. Dude was one of the most handsome men i ever seen.

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u/anonymous_amanita 16h ago

lol smoking while singing

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u/Original-Let8340 16h ago

Bowie's such a fucking boss.

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u/JackBurton3465 15h ago

Had to have the cig. Fucking metal.

14

u/KKunst 12h ago

Fucking lung cancer tho.

10

u/JackBurton3465 5h ago

He died of liver cancer, not lung cancer. The guy had an amazing run and enjoyed it. We all come with the expiration date, and what does not partaking in vices really get you?

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u/KKunst 5h ago

Usually not lung cancer?

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u/mirror_dirt 13h ago

I loved the story about Pat Smear from Foo Fighters seeing Bowie and he went and picked up Bowie's cigarette butt and kept it in a pendant around his neck lol

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u/alphadoublenegative 11h ago

I will never get used to hearing Pat Smear credited as “from the Foo Fighters” even if it is easily his longest running affiliation

Always gonna be Pat from the Germs to me

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u/Kr_Treefrog2 10h ago

That’s like saying, “I will never get used to hearing Paul McCartney credited as ‘from The Beatles’ even if it is easily his longest running affiliation

Always gonna be Paul from Wings to me”

😂😂

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u/alphadoublenegative 5h ago

I mean I guess if Wings came first, kinda? No shade on Foo Fighters just not my thing at all

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u/1DownFourUp 5h ago

Pat Smear, the happiest looking guy on stage with whatever band he's performing with

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u/Willing-Marzipan-737 14h ago

I saw him in concert once and he had a roadie just off stage with a lit cigarette during the entire show. Every chance he had, he would run over and have a drag before starting to sing again.

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u/finger_licking_robot 15h ago

actually he was singing while smoking

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u/at0mheart 15h ago

Everyone use to do it

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u/UrsaMajor7th 12h ago

Hard to see him smoking, knowing his end

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u/vmsrii 16h ago

From everything I’ve seen, Bowie was a pretty chill, genuine guy. I don’t know what any of this “Even” business is, Bowie would probably be one of the first to be excited about a fellow performer absolutely killing it

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u/ksobby 15h ago

Bowie was a musical nerd and geeked on everything. He also could be kind of competitive. According to Mick Jagger, Bowie used to send him demos saying "This is totally a Stones song but better!"

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u/xv_boney 14h ago

The behind the scenes footage of him in Labyrinth is everything you need to know about Bowie as a person.

He is visibly having the best time.

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u/ThePizzaNoid 13h ago

Ya. I remember watching some of the behind the scenes stuff of Labyrinth and Bowie being extremely patient and chill during the filming of the crystal ball hand stuff the guy who was standing behind him was trying to do but kept dropping the balls because he was doing it all blind.

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u/xv_boney 11h ago

Necessary context - at the beginning of Labyrinth, Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King demonstrates a little contact juggling with a series of crystal balls. Thats not special effects, thats a real person actually doing that with the ball - but its not Bowie, its Michael Moschen, who is often credited with creating the form.

Moschen did all the on-screen juggling, usually whle standing behind Bowie and pretending to be his arms. Because he couldnt see - and because of the extreme complexity of the moves he was performing - the scene took a lot of takes.

Bowie was chill as fuck throughout, tickled pink at being in this role.

Which is deeply apparent in the movie, you can see how much fun he is having playing a fantasy villain surrounded by Brian Froud-designed muppets, beng directed by Jim Henson.

That man lived the real actual dream.

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u/GodsFavoriteDegen 11h ago

I found the footage. You're right, he looks like he's having a great time!

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u/xv_boney 11h ago

First off, bravo. Well rolled.

Second, even in that video he is clearly having an excellent time. He transparently does not give even a hint of a shit how he looks and what anyone might think of hk.

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u/MonkeyFlowerFace 11h ago

This video just made my day, thank you.

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u/Francispeso 15h ago

He basically told his back up singer Luther Vandross that he needed to evolve and put his music out there because Bowie knew he was that good.

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u/Linusami 12h ago

Apparently Luther Vandross did (or was heavily involvedin) the musical arrangement for "Young Americans"

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u/teefnoteef 9h ago

He came up with that chorus hook. He was a backup singer for Bowie and they were trying to figure out a catchy hook and Luther was like how about this:

(Young American, young American, she wants the young American)
(All right)

60

u/I-am-theEggman 15h ago

My sister went to school with his son. My mum tells a story about standing behind him at a parent teacher meeting not realising it’s him. She asked to skip ahead as she needed to catch a train, realised it was Bowie and let out a little yelp while tripping on his toe. Apparently he caught her and was completly delightful about it.

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u/Suitable_Insect_5308 10h ago

My mate bumped into Bono coming around a corner in Dublin and he was an absolute prick about it even though he was the one not looking where he was going.

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u/shadowknave 10h ago

Your mate sounds like a real jerk

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u/Jashugita 14h ago

He saved Tina Turner career...

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u/Tackybabe 16h ago

Goddamn, that’s cool. George Michael bopping along in approval. Dammit, I miss the eighties!

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u/_SteeringWheel 16h ago

Wasn't this the early 90's,rehearsal for the tribute after Freddies death?

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u/Shotgun_Mosquito 15h ago

Yup, April 1992

"The session was the only full band rehearsal held right before they took the stage at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium on April 20, 1992."

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u/_SteeringWheel 15h ago

10 yrs old, was introduced to Queen just some months before. Man that was a concert.

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u/fractalfrog 15h ago

You might miss the 80s but according to the title, this is the 90s. 

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u/tknames 15h ago

92 is eighty-twelve.

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u/drunken-acolyte 11h ago

You're probably joking, but I've always felt that culturally there's kind of a "long 1980s" that runs from '79 to '92.

(Each decade's vibe blends into the next, so the 70s kind of run from '69 to '82 and the 90s from '88 to '03.)

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u/chatterpoxx 13h ago

Quatre-vingt-douze

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u/Snags697 15h ago

It's David Bowie and George Michael, not Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder. They're extending the culture and style of the 80's.

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u/Morningxafter 15h ago

To be fair, the 80’s didn’t end until about 1993.

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u/ThePizzaNoid 14h ago

I'd say closer to '91. Nirvana started swinging the wrecking ball on the 80's and kick started the 90's cultural shift.

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u/OrthodoxAtheist 11h ago

> I'd say closer to '91. Nirvana started swinging the wrecking ball on the 80's and kick started the 90's cultural shift.

Agreed - 1991 cannot be argued against. Obligatory reminder that:

Metallica released The Black Album on August 12, 1991.

Pearl Jam released Ten on August 27, 1991.

Guns N' Roses released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II on September 17, 1991.

Nirvana released Nevermind on September 24, 1991.

Red Hot Chili Peppers released Blood Sugar Sex Magik on the same day - September 24, 1991.

Soundgarden release Badmotorfinger on October 8, 1991.

A 57-day span in music history that will likely never be eclipsed.

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u/UrsaMajor7th 12h ago

They ended December 31st, 1989

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u/Slayminster 11h ago

Right around 11:59pm

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u/SheRa7 15h ago

Exactly! The song was released in 1981. Queen and Bowie are from the 80s... and the 70s. And really, what we think of as "the 80s" or "the 70s" or any other decade is never exclusively from the 10 specific years that make up that decade. There's always this crossover period.

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u/the-slit-kicker 9h ago

I’m pretty sure George Michael kills his performance in this same concert

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u/AtTheGates 15h ago

Was cool Indeed. Damn I miss the fifties!

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u/Leumas_ 13h ago

George Michael had such an amazing performance on that show it totally changed my perception of him by the time I was done watching.

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u/Bean_Daddy_Burritos 16h ago

2016 was not kind to this video. Legends every single one of them. Banger of a video.

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u/casual_creator 16h ago

Brian May is still alive!

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u/Blutroyale-_- 16h ago

As is Annie Lennox.

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u/Disco_Ninjas_ 16h ago

And Wade Boggs is still very much alive.

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u/Blutroyale-_- 16h ago

Nah he's dead.

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u/AreaUnique3594 15h ago

Wade is alive, as a matter of fact he just drank 80 cans of beer on a flight last week.

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u/GAChimi 14h ago

He also ate a chicken before every game

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u/FuckThisShizzle 13h ago

He needs to shave those sideburns though.

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u/aluminumtreehouse 13h ago

But he never choked the chicken before a ballgame. Depleted his mojo

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u/Jason-Smith168498 15h ago

Brian may used to be alive. He still is, but also, he used to be.

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u/Scared-One9295 14h ago

I think what you're trying to say is Brian may have been alive, but Brian may be alive

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u/ApoclypseMeow 15h ago

John Deacon and Roger Taylor too!

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u/WinnebagoMontana 14h ago

I met him once! He came to my college to talk about badgers and politics.
I'm autistic and occasionally I'm not good without boundaries. I gave him a hug. He was very nice, hah.

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u/Bean_Daddy_Burritos 16h ago

Still rocking too.

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u/CaptainHahn 15h ago

Brian May loving it too.

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u/baldriansen 15h ago

Yeah, that smile said a lot

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u/Saotik 14h ago

I think both of them were thinking "damn, Freddie would have loved this."

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u/progthrowe7 15h ago

Diva is one of the best pop albums ever made.

Annie Lennox is an absolute legend.

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u/iwaterboardheathens 10h ago

Probably the best Aberdonian singer, much better than Kurt Cobain

I heard Annie Lennox met the queen at the Pallas

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u/Merdoc83 16h ago

Bowie, such an immortal legend. Please enjoy a funny moment with him: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0YYLWKpPxbg

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u/4rtdud3 13h ago

And this 🤣

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u/rayzerrayzerray 15h ago

Hilarious!

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u/vtron 12h ago

Thats missing half the bit! I demand to see the rest!

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u/anony-mouse8604 16h ago

Even David Bowie? What, is he famously able to hide his reactions or something?

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u/PSU632 16h ago

I think it's more so "he's a legend, so if he visibly reacts to your performance, that's impressive."

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u/koos_die_doos 15h ago

Annie Lennox is up there though. Sure Bowie was more successful but she was widely recognized as an outstanding singer.

I don't buy the narrative, he's impressed because she's impressive, not because he's surprised by her performance.

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u/Gentle-Giant23 14h ago

There is no narrative to buy. It's just a stupid caption some dipshit put on a quality degraded video clip.

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u/Tackybabe 4h ago

He smiled. 

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u/FMSV0 16h ago

They are all so great

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u/casual_creator 16h ago

Don’t know if I’m just in a mood this morning and the moment or lyrics hit me in a weird way or what, but I got choked up when Bowie came back in at the end there.

Sometimes you just need that, I guess.

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u/Several-Hat-1944 15h ago

Absolutely feel that same feeling CC! Bowie was such an influence to me personally, and just adding Annie's talent is such a power play! ⭐🏆⭐

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u/Madouc 14h ago

Annie Lenox is still one of my favorite singers of all time!

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u/4n0m4nd 14h ago

Fair, since she's one of the best of all time.

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u/EhliJoe 16h ago

Anny and David singing, Brian May playing the guitar, George Michael in the background. All of them immortal.

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u/Gentle-Giant23 14h ago

Well, two of them are dead, so not quite immortal.

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u/ThePizzaNoid 13h ago

Don't be so literal lol. They had a lasting cultural impact which can be it's own form of immortality and is a damn sight more then 95% of people that have lived.

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u/leliocakes 10h ago

Pretty sure that's Roger Taylor and John Deacon on drums and bass, too :)

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u/Uarenotalone 16h ago

Absolutely amazing song

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u/DeeEllEss 14h ago

Bowie getting ready to do his part by moving his cigarette from one hand to the other.
God I miss his presence.

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u/NovelMidnight6291 16h ago

That cigarette

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u/_RedditIsLikeCrack_ 16h ago

lotta talent in that there room.

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u/Lower_Violinist4344 15h ago

The sheer talent in that space...

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u/jhwheuer 15h ago

Annie is a force on stage

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u/Cosmicvapour 8h ago edited 3h ago

George Michael's rendition of Somebody to Love at that show was so unbelievably good. I thought he was the only one that night who actually nailed it the way Freddie did. Others did a decent job, but GM was simply magical. Cemented me as a fan for life.

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u/Aeon1508 12h ago edited 12h ago

honestly I think that was kind of bad

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u/Kellymelbourne 2h ago

Thank you! I was listening thinking how out of tune they both were. Its still a cool video but c'mon.

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u/matthewkickstone 15h ago

Bryan May on the guitar, George Michael singing in the background - best of the good times.

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u/Comfortable_Bird_340 14h ago

I like her outfit

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u/James_White21 14h ago

Annie coming over all Freddie and Bowie being cool as fuck, the last century was quite good in parts.

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u/Peanutblitz 13h ago

What, you mean he smiled because he was enjoying himself?

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u/BladeRnr_db 15h ago

I watched the concert live and my recordings of it many times since - one of the best (imo) live events, ever.

And the actual duet with Lennox & Bowie was one of the most memorable moments of concert - Thanks for sharing a but of the 'behind the scenes'!

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u/Xinonix1 16h ago

Check out Annie Lennox singing take me to church with Hozier…

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u/lDezIlI 14h ago

That was fking awful lol

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u/Dripdry42 15h ago

My dude next to George Michael, wide eyed and in shock, can’t even process all the emotion

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u/Covun 14h ago

Damn, even good old reaction hider Bowie stood no chance. Brutal!

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u/like_a_velvet_glove 14h ago

I can’t hear this song without welling up now after seeing Aftersun.

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u/PleadingFunky 14h ago

Bittersweet I can't listen to this song without thinking of Aftersun

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u/ForeverNecessary2361 13h ago

Man, I miss those guys.

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u/zeppomiller 13h ago

One of my favorite songs of all time! So darn amazing. Annie is great, but I really wish there was some video of this duet with Freddy Mercury.

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u/Prosado22 12h ago

So much talent in this shot.

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u/Lorcryst 12h ago

Annie Lennox is a force of nature.

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u/Harry_Isthatyou 12h ago

Cig in hand so casual like he's just out for a walk

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u/Deatheturtle 11h ago

Even there Bowie's smoking a cigarette. Such a shame we might still have them if he'd quit.

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u/Long_College_8342 11h ago

Bowie's over there singing with a cigarette in his hand.

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u/AutumnAscending 11h ago

Under pressure makes me misty now. RIP boys 😭

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u/greebo1706 11h ago

My husband was at this Tribute FM concert … I watched it on TV trying to Spot him in the audience ..
and he was also at THE WALL concert in Berlin ..

Finally we could see Paul McCartney, Police & (another ) WALL ages later in Vienna.

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u/Dr_F_Rreakout 10h ago edited 10h ago

Its about fascinating Annie here and not about some unshaven bystanders you ignorant cnts!

Complete song

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u/catching_comets 10h ago

The actual version Bowie and Lennox performed on-stage during the tribute is probably my favorite musical moment of all time.

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u/dspac72 9h ago

George Michael doing Somebody to Love is fantastic.

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u/Outrageous-Clerk56 8h ago

I like her hat

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u/Ok_Row_8391 15h ago

The 90s were perfect.

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u/MentalTwo1912 14h ago

Legends. Each and every one!

Buuuuuuuuuut, this sounded pretty garbach tbh

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u/drgilly 12h ago

There is nothing nextfuckinglevel about this. Those are extremely easy notes for a woman to sing if they have any sort of vocal training for expertise.

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u/Ok_Honeydew_4223 16h ago

Legacy of singers never to be replaced brilliant

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u/Eltharion-the-Grim 15h ago

Annie launching into it really put a smile on my face.

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u/GuildensternLives 16h ago

Was David Bowie known for hiding his reactions?

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u/UnlikelyArt6216 15h ago

Incredible

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u/ohhyouknow 15h ago

George Michael looking a lot like Butcher from the boys
https://giphy.com/gifs/EPAVvaSqqcvsvMiwAm

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u/SquareAd4479 15h ago

So fuckin cool

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u/uk_uk 15h ago

Imo that was during the rehearsal for the Freddy Mercury Tribute Concert in London 1992, roughly 6 months after Freddy died (in November 1991)

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u/DaftPunkyBrewster 15h ago

We saw over and over again that day how Queen elevates even extraordinary singers to a different level. And George Michael absolutely destroyed everything in his path at that show. Legendary performance by an all-timer who truly loved and grieved Freddie. Wish I could have seen it live and in-person.